At a glance
From its website, read 2 Nov 2026California FarmLink is a loan fund based in Aptos, California. Its website describes farm loans. Stated loan amounts run from $5,000 to $2.2M. Where it lends: California; 32 of 58 counties served in 2025. Business loan rates stated on its site range from 3.5% to 7%. It says it considers borrowers with low or no credit history. You can start an application online. It serves borrowers in Spanish.
Each point is backed by a quote further down this page. Terms change: confirm with the lender.
How to reach them and apply
| Apply online | Page with the application link |
|---|---|
| Website | www.californiafarmlink.org |
| Office (official list) | 335 Spreckels Dr. Suite D, Aptos, CA 95003 |
What their website says about applying
Start your online application with inquiry to let us know your desired loan size, its purpose, and a bit about your business.
sourceTo apply for a loan with FarmLink, provide a detailed plan for using the funds and prepare financial records such as a profit and loss statement, balance sheet, cash flow projections, tax returns, and sales receipts.
source
Phone numbers and addresses are the ones on the lender's own site and the CDFI Fund list. CDFI Atlas does not take applications.
Rates and terms they state
Read 2 Nov 2026| Loan | Stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture / farm loans | Rate: 3.5% | Interest: 3.5% | source |
| Agriculture / farm loans | Rate: 7% | Interest: 7.00% fixed rate, with potential for 1.00% discount for FarmLink educational program graduates. | source |
| Small-dollar / emergency loans | Rate stated, not as an APR: see their wording | Interest: 0% to 3.5% | source |
As published on the lender's website on that date, not an offer or a quote. Your rate depends on the lender's review. A missing rate means the pages we read did not state one. For consumer loans we repeat a rate only when the lender states it as an APR (annual percentage rate, which includes fees); otherwise read the lender's own wording and ask for the APR.
Who qualifies, in their words
- Low or damaged credit considered
Helping people who have had challenging credit histories or little credit.
source - No or thin credit history considered
Lack of credit history, circumstances outside of your control, and actions you’ve taken to repay and repair derogatory items are important factors that FarmLink considers
source
Only rules the lender's own pages state. Other requirements may apply.
Official record
CDFI Fund list, 21 Oct 2026| Institution type | Loan fund |
|---|---|
| Native CDFI | No |
| Date certified (as listed) | 13 Jun 2013 |
| RSSD ID | — (none listed) |
| Address | 335 Spreckels Dr. Suite D, Aptos, CA 95003 Directions (Google Maps) |
| Website | www.californiafarmlink.org |
Head officeBranch or officeApproximate (ZIP code area)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, © OpenMapTiles, tiles OpenFreeMap. Head-office points: U.S. Census Bureau geocoder.
Loans and eligibility
Verified from lender site on 2 Nov 2026Read from 7 pages of the lender's website on 2 Nov 2026. Quotes are verbatim. Extracted with AI help from the pages listed below and checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a person. Confidence: high. The site shows a website maintenance notice and rates are stated as subject to change. Terms change — confirm with the lender before applying.
| Product | Amount stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim, incl. menu labels) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture / farm loans | from $5,000 | Loans starting at $5,000 | source |
Loan sizes
Loans starting at $5,000
sourceWe can consider loan requests up to $2.2 million.
sourceLoans up to $50,000
sourceLoans up to $100,000 (exceptions apply)
source
Range used for the size filter: $5,000 to $2.2M
Service area
California; 32 of 58 counties served in 2025
Among a total of 58 California counties
source
Borrower focus
- Farmers / ranchers
Our loans are designed to support farmers, ranchers, and fishers who have difficulty getting affordable business loans
source
Languages
- Spanish
Iniciar su primera consulta (en español)
source
Online application
Yes — the site links to an application. Start your online application with inquiry to let us know your desired loan size, its purpose, and a bit about your business.
source
Pages read (7)
- https://www.californiafarmlink.org/
- https://www.californiafarmlink.org/services/lending
- https://www.californiafarmlink.org/story/client-spotlight-antonio-vazquez
- https://www.californiafarmlink.org/story/understanding-the-numbers-behind-the-farm
- https://www.californiafarmlink.org/loan-inquiry
- https://www.californiafarmlink.org/resource-library/innovations-in-agricultural-credit
- https://www.californiafarmlink.org/resource-library/agricultural-and-rural-credit-for-lenders
Questions to ask when you contact them
Based on what their website said when we read it on 2 Nov 2026, and what it left out. Something missing here does not mean they don't offer it: ask.
- Do you need collateral, a business plan or a minimum time in business?
Their website does not say what they require. - How long can I take to repay?
No repayment terms are stated on their website. - Do you offer free coaching or help preparing my application?
CDFI certification requires development services, such as training or advice, alongside lending. - What documents will you need from me, and how long does a decision usually take?
Their website describes some application steps (above); ask for the full document list.
Write down the answers, who you spoke to and the date, and ask for the terms in writing before you sign.
CDFI Fund awards
CDFI Fund database, 3 Nov 2026$12.8 million in 12 awards from the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund, 2012–2024 (4 programs).
| Round year | Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $1,350,000 |
| 2022 | CDFI Equitable Recovery Program | $4,957,678 |
| 2021 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $625,000 |
| 2021 | CDFI Rapid Response Program | $1,826,265 |
| 2020 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $657,000 |
| 2018 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $632,000 |
| 2017 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $930,405 |
| 2016 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $500,000 |
| 2015 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $300,000 |
| 2014 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $300,000 |
| 2013 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $600,000 |
| 2012 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $92,708 |
These are awards and investments made to the institution itself to build its capital and capacity. They are not loans to borrowers, and an award does not mean the lender has money available for a particular loan today.
Source: CDFI Fund Searchable Awards Database, all 12,628 award records (1996–2025), read 3 Nov 2026. Years are the award round as the database lists it. Matched to the official CDFI list by exact name and state; see the method on the About page.
Size of the fund (IRS Form 990)
Fiscal year ending Dec 2023| Total assets | $38.4M |
|---|---|
| Total liabilities | $23.7M |
| Net assets | $14.7M |
| Total revenue | $9.7M |
| Notes and loans receivable, net (Part X line 7) | $21.2M |
| Program-related investments (Part X line 13) | $9.3M |
End-of-year figures from the Form 990 this organisation filed with the IRS for the fiscal year ending December 2023 (tax year 2023; EIN 94-3332630, filed as “CALIFORNIA FARMLINK”), taken from the IRS Annual Extract of Tax-Exempt Organization Financial Data (returns processed in 2024). Figures are self-reported to the IRS, not audited by us, and lag one to two years behind today. The lender’s own annual report may show newer numbers. This organisation’s filings on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Filings over time
| Fiscal year ending | Total assets | Net assets | Revenue | Notes and loans receivable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2021 (990) | $29.6M | $11.1M | $8.9M | $11.9M |
| Dec 2022 (990) | $31.8M | $10.7M | $3.5M | $15.3M |
| Dec 2023 (990) | $38.4M | $14.7M | $9.7M | $21.2M |
Total assets grew 30% from Dec 2021 to Dec 2023; notes and loans receivable rose 78%. One row per fiscal year in the IRS extracts of returns processed in 2022, 2023, 2024; “—” = the line was empty or zero on that return (a fund can book its loans on other lines).
How it compares
Computed from public data| Measure | This lender | Compared with |
|---|---|---|
| Median SBA 7(a) loan it approved, FY2020–FY2026 | $86,000 (16 loans) | All 7(a) lenders in California: $270,000. Larger than the median loan of 13% of the 97 other certified CDFIs with 10 or more 7(a) loans. |
| SBA approvals, FY2023–24 → FY2025–26 | 3 → 2 | Rank among the 21 certified CDFIs in California with SBA approvals in either period: 13 → 15. |
| Largest loan its website states | $2.2M | Other loan funds whose website states a maximum: median $250,000. Higher than the stated maximum of 83% of these 184. |
| Total assets, latest IRS Form 990 | $38.4M | Larger than 81% of the 47 other certified loan funds and venture funds in California with a matched Form 990 (median $18.6M). |
| Business loan rate its website stated (2 Nov 2026) | 3.50% to 7.00% | Prime rate that day: 7.00% (FRED DPRIME), so the lowest stated rate is 3.5 pts below prime. For an SBA 7(a) variable-rate loan the legal maximum is prime plus 3 to 6.5 points, by loan size. |
How these comparisons were worked out
| Measure | Peer group (this lender left out) | Peers | Where this lender sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median SBA 7(a) loan | certified CDFIs with 10+ 7(a) loans, nationwide | 97 | larger than 13% |
| SBA approvals then vs now | certified CDFIs in California with SBA approvals FY2023–2026 | 20 | rank 13 → 15 of 21 |
| Largest stated loan | other loan funds stating a maximum, nationwide | 184 | higher than 83% |
| Form 990 total assets | certified loan and venture funds with a Form 990, in California | 47 | larger than 81% |
“Larger than X%” = the share of the peer group with a smaller value. Ranks count from the largest. Peer groups use the lender's home state when it has at least 5 peers, otherwise the whole country. Full definitions: methodology.
For comparison, not an offer and not a rating. Past records show what this lender did, not what you would be offered; your rate depends on the loan and on the lender's review. Peer groups and sources: methodology. SBA 7(a) & 504 FOIA data as of 30 Sep 2026. Form 990 figures: IRS annual extracts (see the Form 990 section). Prime rate: FRED DPRIME.
SBA loans approved
SBA data as of 30 Sep 2026The SBA's public loan data lists 16 SBA-backed approvals for California FarmLink in fiscal years 2020–2026 (October 2019 to September 2026):
- 16 7(a) loans as the lender: $1.8M in total (gross amount approved), median $86,000
By fiscal year: FY2020 3 · FY2021 3 · FY2022 5 · FY2023 1 · FY2024 2 · FY2025 2 · FY2026 0.
What actually happened
- Size of its 7(a) loans: half were between $41,950 and $158,250, median $86,000 (16 loans)
- Term of its 7(a) loans: median 90 months (8 years) (16 loans)
- Fixed or variable: 100% of its 7(a) loans had a fixed rate (16 loans)
- Young businesses: 60% of its 7(a) loans went to a startup or a business two years old or less (15 loans with an answer)
Descriptive only: what the SBA file records for loans this lender approved in fiscal years 2020–2026. Each figure covers at least 10 loans; with fewer we show nothing. It is not an offer, not the rate or term you would get, and says nothing about your chance of approval.
By program
- 7(a) Community Advantage (12, 75%)
- 7(a) standard (4, 25%)
Borrower industries
NAICS sector, 3 or more loans.
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (13)
Where borrowers are
County of the borrower's ZIP code, 3 or more loans.
- Monterey County, CA (4)
How this lender was matched in the SBA files: SBA lender ID 0518021: same name, state and city (SBA lists “California FarmLink”).
Approved is not the same as paid out: an approved loan can be reduced or never drawn. SBA lists the lender each loan is currently assigned to, which can differ after a merger or loan sale. California FarmLink may also make loans outside SBA programs, which are not counted here, and SBA Microloans are not in these files.
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, 7(a) & 504 FOIA loan data, files as of 30 Sep 2026, downloaded 3 Nov 2026. Our counts, cancelled approvals left out. How we match lenders.
Other certified CDFIs in Aptos and California
- AccessityLoan fund · San Diego, CASmall-business loansVerified
- Accion Opportunity Fund Community DevelopmentLoan fund · San Jose, CAEquipment loans, SBA-backed loans (7(a)/504/Community Advantage), Small-business loansVerified
- AltaOne Federal Credit UnionCredit union · Ridgecrest, CAAuto / vehicle loans, Commercial real estate loans, Credit-builder loans, Equipment loans…Verified
- Altura Credit UnionCredit union · Riverside, CAAuto / vehicle loans, Home mortgages, Personal / consumer loansVerified
- American Nonprofits, Inc.Loan fund · Santa Cruz, CAVerified
- Apoyo Financiero Inc.Loan fund · Concord, CAPersonal / consumer loans, Small-business loansVerified
Work at California FarmLink? Link to this page
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CDFI Atlas is not a lender and does not give financial advice. Inclusion is not an endorsement, and lenders have not reviewed or approved these pages. Disclaimer.